Questions Come Alive - Smithsonian Institution

68 Pages·2013·3.55 MB·English

Smithsonian Smithsonian
SERIOUSLY AMAZING® SERIOUSLY AMAZING®

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Questions Come Alive
Front cover: Seen through the submerged viewing window, the
Seal and Sea Lion Exhibit comes alive. Read more about the
National Zoo’s newly-opened American Trail on pages 22–23. 2012 AnnuAl RepoRt
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Letter from the Secretary Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Affiliations The Smithsonian’s 2012 annual report, Inside Front Cover: Secretary Clough at Machu Pichu, October 2012. He visited Peru
Anne Van Camp, Director Harold A. Closter, Director Questions Come Alive, is available and sites along the Inka Road in preparation for a planned National Museum of the
MRC 507, P.O. Box 37012 MRC 942, P.O. Box 37012 online at www.si.edu. To request American Indian exhibition about the road. Credits: Cover, Pamela Jenkins; pp. 10–11,
Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012 Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012 this publication in an alternative Dane Penland; p. 12, Lionel Pozzoli, from Michael Under Water; pp. 14–15, Gavin Jantjes,
202.633.5908 202.633.5300 format, call 202.633.4300 (voice) or South Africa, untitled, 1989–1990, acrylic on canvas, National Museum of African
202.633.5285 (TTY). Art, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition
Smithsonian Libraries The Smithsonian Associates Program, photo Franko Khoury; p. 16, Karen Rubin; pp. 18, 35, 59, Eric Long; pp. 22–23
Nancy E. Gwinn, Director Frederica Adelman, Interim Director Jason Peevy, Director of Communications and 24–25, Steve Sniteman; pp. 26, 45, 49, Jeff Malet; p. 29, Jon Goell; p. 36, Donald
MRC 154, P.O. Box 37012 MRC 701, P.O. Box 23293 Bill Tabor, Project Director E. Hurlbert; p. 38, Lakota painted drum, ca. 1860s, South or North Dakota, photo,
Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012 Washington, D.C. 20026‑3293 Patricia LaPera, Feature Writer Ernest Amoroso; p. 41, Michael Henley; p. 42, Doug Aitken: SONG 1, organized by the
202.633.2240 202.633.8880 Gabriella Boston, News Writer Hirshhorn, artwork courtesy 303 Gallery, New York; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich;
Catherine Lansdowne, Melissa Reichley, Victoria Miro Gallery, London; Regen Projects, Los Angeles; support by YoungArts,
Smithsonian Marine Station Smithsonian Center for Learning Anne‑Marie Schaaf, Elizabeth National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and Hirshhorn Collections Fund;
at Fort Pierce and Digital Access Sherman, Contributing Editors photo © Frederick Charles; p. 46, Google; p. 53, James Kegley, courtesy Smithsonian
Valerie J. Paul, Director Stephanie L. Norby, Director Studio A, Design Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, Miss Piggy © The Muppets Studio, LLC;
701 Seaway Drive MRC 508, P.O. Box 37012 p. 54, Tony Brown, Imijination Photography; p. 57, anthropomorphic stele, near al‑
What makes stars sparkle or skyscrapers stand tall? Why does a
Fort Pierce, Fla. 34949‑3140 Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012 Ula, Mada’in Saleh, Tayma, Saudi Arabia, sandstone, 4th millennium BCE, National
certain species face extinction? Space travel was the stuff of science 772.462.0982 202.633.5297 Museum, Riyadh; p. 58, Adam Metallo; p. 61, courtesy Woody Guthrie Publications,
Inc.; p. 62, Chip Clark, with permission from James Kennedy; other images,
fiction until someone asked, “How?” Smithsonian Tropical Research Smithsonian Institution Traveling Smithsonian; donor photos, courtesy of donors.
Institute (Panama) Exhibition Service
Eldredge Bermingham, Director Anna R. Cohn, Director Printed on FSC‑ and SFI‑certified, recycled paper containing 10% post‑consumer waste.
At the Smithsonian, big questions are the common denominators that unite our museums, research 9100 Panama City PL MRC 941, P.O. Box 37012
centers, and programs. And curiosity is contagious. Today’s small child who looks in awe at Washington, D.C. 20521‑9100 Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012
011.507.212.8086 202.633.3136
the big dinosaurs that once roamed the earth and wonders, “What happened?” might just be
tomorrow’s paleontologist. Smithsonian Latino Center
education Eduardo Díaz, Director
Among this year’s stories is a dynamic example of the impact Smithsonian experts can have when and outreach MRC 512, P.O. Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012
they come together across disciplines: in African Cosmos, our experts tell an international story
202.633.1240
of how indigenous peoples have interpreted the mysteries of the universe. The dramatic arrival Asian Pacific American Center
Konrad Ng, Director
of the space shuttle Discovery excited visitors and inspires us with its particular blend of adventure Smithsonian Science
MRC 516, P.O. Box 37012
Education Center
and practicality. And the Smithsonian’s newest museum, the National Museum of African Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012
Thomas Emrick, Acting Director
American History and Culture, will challenge visitors to ponder race, reconciliation, and how the 202.633.2691
901 D Street S.W., Suite 704‑B
story of one American is the story of all Americans. Washington, D.C. 20024
Center for Folklife and
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Cultural Heritage
No matter what kind of questions you have, the Smithsonian has answers that will surprise and Michael Mason, Director
delight you. Visit us at www.seriouslyamazing.com to see how we make questions come alive. MRC 520, P.O. Box 37012
Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012
202.633.6455
None of this would be possible without you. We depend on private philanthropy to keep us
vibrant and relevant to a new and increasingly diverse generation of Americans. The Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships
belongs to you, and we deeply appreciate the contributions of all who asked themselves, Eric Woodard, Director
MRC 902, P.O. Box 37012
“How can I be a part of my Smithsonian?” Your response to that question makes all the difference.
Washington, D.C. 20013‑7012
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ArtLab+ teens create original digital media using Smithsonian collections and guided by program artists‑in‑residence
and mentors.
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Q:
Does the
Smithsonian seem
different in 2012?
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A:
If so, it’s by design.
What’s part man, part fish, and all latex?
Find the answer at seriouslyamazing.com,
a website that introduces a Smithsonian
where questions come alive*.
To help younger, more diverse audiences understand
who the Smithsonian is and why it matters, we recently
took a new look at our venerable brand. “We want
Americans to see our relevance, and to discover ways
they can benefit from what we do,” says Pherabe
Kolb, associate director of strategic communications.
“We want to spark their interest, and offer more ways
they can connect to us. We need to speak directly
to young people in their own language, and show them
we’re not your grandfather’s Smithsonian.”
Using seven characters that give voice to questions
the public asks, the Smithsonian’s first-ever ad campaign
puts forth a serious message in a light-hearted way.
Curiosity is innate and part of what makes us human.
The iterative process of asking and answering questions
is the basis of learning. And learning is at the Smith-
sonian’s core, whether it’s our conservation biologists,
astrophysicists, curators, or community educators.
As for those questions? We’ve got the answers.
*Answer: Paul Thek’s sculpture Fishman at the Hirshhorn.
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The Smithsonian is all about
questions and answers,
and it is people who bring
those questions to life.
We created seven quirky
characters to symbolize the
questions the Smithsonian
asks and answers every day.
Look for them inside the
question mark, and then go
The New is where technology and The Masterpiece embodies artistic The Green reflects the wonder of the
to seriouslyamazing.com!
creativity collide. expression. natural landscape.
The Discoverer explores our world and The Mash Up stands for the ways The Wild represents the diversity The Storyteller is about America,
the universe. people share culture. of the animal kingdom. its people, and the tales they tell.
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Smithsonian stories
making news in 2012
Roger and Victoria Sant
People Who Lead The Civil War at 150 According to What? and Fragments, Genome Initiative, which involves
Today and Tomorrow Smithsonian-wide collaboration— at the Galleries, explored themes partner organizations around the
In a wide-ranging retrospective, like the destruction of the old and world and aims in five years to hold
What are the qualities necessary to the Smithsonian shined a light on the fashioning of the new in a 50 percent of the world’s genomic
lead one of the most visited museums familiar and surprising narratives changing society. Ai Weiwei: Circle diversity—on ice, in perpetuity.
in the world, which also sponsors and facts of the Civil War, from of Animals/Zodiac Heads, a twelve-
world-class scientific research? Vision, a thoughtful examination of the part, ten-foot-tall bronze sculptural App paints a verbal picture
for sure. Strong leadership skills, the Emancipation Proclamation to an suite installed outdoors at the Office of the Chief Information
ability to mentor bright young scientists, exploration of the little-known Hirshhorn emphasized the artist’s Officer and Accessibility Program
and impec cable credentials in the field use of hot air balloons for recon- and the Smithsonian’s shared Office—Low-vision visitors to
of natural history. Roger and Victoria naissance by the Union Army. desire to make art accessible to all. the National Museum of American
Sant made it easier to find and retain The monumental commemoration History can enjoy a vivid picture
an individual with that combination involved more than 20 museums Preserving the Tree of Life of the exhibition American Stories
of talents by endowing the directorship and programs, engaging millions National Museum of Natural with a new smart phone app
of the National Museum of Natural of visitors online and in-person, and History and global partners— that gives crowd-sourced verbal
History. “We wanted to give the brought new perspectives to this It may look it, but this is no ordinary descriptions of museum artifacts.
museum the best chance to attract central chapter in the American freezer room. Instead, the muse- In its next generation the app will
high-quality leaders,” says Roger Sant, story as only the Smithsonian can. um’s long rows of stainless steel include a video recording device
a Smithsonian Regent. “Those of us tanks will hold up to five million for people with hearing loss.
who have been involved with the Ai Weiwei by way non-human tissue samples, frozen Eventually it may go Smithsonian-
Smithsonian know that the quality of the Smithsonian as cold as -310 F. The permanent wide, making millions of artifacts
of its people is what fosters the quality Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture deep freeze is safeguarding a portion more accessible to those with
of its ideas. Vicki and I hope this gift Garden and Freer Gallery of Art of the world’s biodiversity and will limited sight and hearing.
will help set a precedent that other and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery— help researchers make potentially
donors will follow.” Chinese, contemporary artist groundbreaking discoveries. This is
Ai Weiwei came to Washington the world’s largest museum-based
with a roar in three exhibitions. biorepository and one big part
The Hirshhorn’s Ai Weiwei: of the Smithsonian-led Global
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Q:
What do you get
when you combine
a shovel with a tent
full of living history?
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A:
A groundbreaking event on
the National Mall.
February 22, 2012, was a day more than a
century and a half in the making. Speaking at
the groundbreaking of the National Museum
of African American History and Culture,
President Barack Obama called it an idea
whose time had come. First proposed by
black veterans of the Civil War and picked up
again by civil rights advocates of the 1950s
and ’60s, the museum finally became a
reality through an Act of Congress in 2003.
Scheduled to open in 2015, the new museum will
be the nation’s only one devoted exclusively to
docu menting African American life, art, history, and
culture. Celebrating its groundbreaking along with
the current First Couple were the museum’s council
members including former First Lady Laura Bush and
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), co-sponsor of the legislation
that created the museum. On a site adjacent to the
Washington Monument, the museum will honor the
extraordinary acts of ordinary Americans and display
artifacts ranging from Harriet Tubman’s shawl to a Jim
Crow railroad car to Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle
Douglas’s memorabilia from the 2012 London games.

“That day was the fulfillment of so many dreams,” says
museum Director Lonnie Bunch. “We are building a
museum that is about making America better. About
remembering those who were left out of history, about
finding reconciliation and healing. And it will tell a part
of your story as an American, no matter who you are.”
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Smithsonian history and
culture stories of 2012
David H. Koch
Places That Make The American movie Hall of Fame. The treasured An urban river view
Knowledge Come Alive National Museum of American compilation—crucial to the mid- Anacostia Community Museum—
History—With the opening of the 20th-century folk music revival— Reclaiming the Edge: Urban
Built on serious scholarship, the high-tech Warner Bros. Theater, adds a key dimension to our Waterways and Civic Engagement
National Museum of Natural History’s the museum not only offers visitors understanding of American cultural examined the historic, cultural,
paleobiology and dinosaur hall is also an enhanced viewing experience, heritage. It is the second of the spiritual, and public health impact
a place that makes children’s eyes but also adds film and its impact label’s recordings to be inducted, of the polluted Anacostia River
grow wide with wonder. Now, an on the nation’s popular culture joining This Land is Your Land, by in Washington D.C. and its global
extensive renovation will combine the to its repertoire. In its first year, the Woody Guthrie. links to other compromised
latest research on the evolution of theater celebrated the American waterways like the Suzhou Creek
life with the museum’s jaw-dropping movie with films of Clint Eastwood One-stop stamps in Shanghai. It posed philosophical
specimens and artifacts to refresh and Humphrey Bogart and deep- National Postal Museum— questions and gave practical
the hall’s permanent exhibitions. This ened visitor appreciation with The museum helped launch the answers on how to restore these
work is made possible by museum objects on view like studio chief Global Philatelic Library, an online urban treasures.
board member David H. Koch, whose Jack Warner’s silver phone. database with millions of philatelic
previous gift established the Hall of records. The free resource, which
Human Origins. “Given the immense Grammy Hall of Fame features 19 libraries including the
popularity of dinosaurs, upgrading this Center for Folklife and Cultural Royal Philatelic Society London,
magnificent hall will be a great step Heritage—Smithsonian Folkways’ serves as a one-stop reference for
forward,” says Koch. “Natural history American Anthology of Folk Music, stamp enthusiasts everywhere
museums acquaint people with a pivotal 84-song compilation of and showcases the Smithsonian’s
the phenomenal phases of the Earth’s American Depression-era sounds, commitment to collaborating
history and the changes that have was inducted into the Grammy with new partners to reach and
occurred over time. Great exhibitions inspire as many people as possible,
are an effective way of getting this nationally and globally.
message across to people of all ages.”
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